Electric-alarm transmitter



I. D. NELSON.

ELECTRIC ALARM TRANSMITTER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 4,1917.

PatentedAfig. 29, 1922,

in clock work mechanisms. In

shafts 11, 12 and 13 another shaft 17 is pro vided which has mounted upon it a pawl 18 rare.

Jiuvins n. nniison, or CINCiNNATI, onro.

ELECTRIC-ALAEM TRANSMITTER.

.epplication filed June t, 1917 Serial No. 172,565.

To tail to from it may concern Be it known that I Jar-ans D. ilnnson a a citizen of the Unite i States of America and resident of Cincinnati, in the county t Hamilton and State of Ghio, have invented a new and useful improvement in Electric- .rilarm 'lransmitters. 01? which the followiug is a specification. I

I An object of my invention is'to produce a mechanically tripped electric alarm transmitter for supervising the valves, pressure, temperature, water level or other apparatus or conditions existing within automatic lire extinguisher systems and which is connected directly withthe desired portion of the system to be supervised.

Figure 1 is a side elevation oi my improied transmitter, mounted in a casing secured to the side of an element or sprinkler system to be observed certain portions oi the transmitter being broken away for convenience oi? illustration.

Figure? is an elevational view of the re-. verse side of my improved transmitter, showing diagrammatically an electi .0 signal system connected t of the transmitter being}; shown broken away for convenience oi" illustration.

Figure an end view of my improved transformer taken on the line 3-3 of Figure In the drawings l. have shownmy improved transmitter directly connected with a tank :tor indicating variations of pressure existing therein, a pressure responsive dia phraum 6 being mounted upon. and COIDYI1U Emitting with the interior of the tank for tripping the transmitter. it weighted lever 7 operatively connects the diaphragm with the transmitter and controis'it in a manner to be hereinafter explained.

The main portion of my improved transmitter consists ot a gear train comprising; gear wheels8 and 9 with pinions 10 and 11 tor completing the train gear 9 and pinion 10 being secured to a shaft 11. Gear 8 is secured to a winding shaft 12 and pinion 11 is mounted. upon another shaft 13. shafts 11, 12 and 13 being journaled in plates 14. and 15 which are spaced apart by means of the usual spacing addition to Which cooperates with a ratchet 19 in controlling the speed of the train in response to Speci-fication of Letters Patent.

erewith, certain parts.

posts 16 commonly employed Patented Aug. 539,

the action oi the spring. In addition to gear 9 and pinion 1O shaft 11 has mounted upon one end a cam 20 which cooperates with a pin 31 on a trigger 22 which is pivotally mounted at a point 23 on plate 15 oi? the transmitter. On the opposite end of shaft 11 a s nal wneel 2 ll S HIOHIltGCl, the

teeth of which are adapted to cooperate with a signal-sending circuit breaker 25 consist mg 01 a contact 25 and an arm 25 which is operated upon by the teeth of the sioiial wheel. to makennd break the circuit. T rioger 22 is provided at one end with a pin 26 which cooperates with the free end ot a trippinglever 27' which is pivotally mounted at its opposite end upon a pivot pin 28 provided in a lug 29 extending from plate Tripping lever 21? is provided with a pin 30 which cooperates with a finger 31 extending from pawl 18 so as to release or stop the vibrating motion or the pawl as desired. At the end 0t trigger 2f?- opposite to that which is provided with pin 26, a pin 32 is mounted, this pin bearing against the periphery of a notched disc 33 which is pivotally mounted at a point 3&- on plate 15 of the transmitter. .Onc notch 35 of disc isadapted to be engaged. by a pin 36 carried by lever which extends from diaphi n1. 6, the remaining notches 37, and hemp; provided for engagement therewith of pin ottr 'g'er 22. In order to cause tri N or to move in a direction such as to hung its pin into engagement with either oi the notches 3"? or 38,, I have provided an arm. 39 upon which a weight 40 is adjnstablv mountec h trigger to swing and cause its pin 26 to knock tripping lever 2'2" out of locking; engagement with the transmitter mechanism so that pin 30 thereof will release finger. 31 and permit vibration of pawl ,18 and consequent operation of the transmitter. cause tripping lever 27 to be moved to bring its pin 30 into engagement with finger 31 to stop the operation of the transmitter, l have provided an arm 11. upon which a Weight d2 is adjustably mounted. 1n addition to gear 8 there is. mounted uponshaft 12 a notched disc 13 which is provided with for the purpose of causing; the

18. It is between gear 8 and disc that I have preferably mounted the spring, not shown, which controls my improved transmitter. In addition to gear 8 and disc 43 I have also mounted a disc 46 upon shaft 12, this disc being provided with diametrically opposed notches 47 and 48 which are provided for engagement with a pin 49 upon an arm 50 which is pivotally mounted at a point 51 upon plate 14 of the transmitter, arm 50 being provided at its opposite end with pivotally mounted pawl 52 which has a lug 53 carrying a pin 54 adapted normally to engage an inclined surface 55 of plate 14 of the transmitter, the free end 56 of pawl 52 being hooked for cooperation with pins 57 and 57 mounted upon gear 8 at diametrically opposite points. A spring 58 which is secured to arm 50 and which bears at its opposite end against pawl 52, is provided for holding pin 54 normally in engagement with inclined surface 55 in position for the hook 56 to be engaged by pin 57 of gear 8. Upon the inner face of disc 46 is provided a cam 59, which is shown in dotted lines in Figure 2, this cam being providedwith ends inclined in the same direction for the purpose of engaging pin 54 and lifting pawl 52 out of engagement with pin 57 during certain portions of the operation of the transmitter. Gear 8 and pinion 10 bear a ratio of 6 to 1 with relation to each other so that six revolutions of signal wheel 24 will be obtained for each revolution of discs 43 and 46. During certain portions of the operation of the transmitter, arm 50 is brought to a position in which pin 49 at one end thereof is brought out of one of the notches 47 or 48 and for the purpose of holding the arm against further movement after pin 49 has been brought out of the notch in which it is located, I have provided a pin 60 mounted upon plate 14 of the transmitter frame.

F or the purpose of illustrating the operation of my improved transmitter l have shown it in Figure 2 as being connected with a normally closed circuit system 61 which controls a local or central station system 62 and in the description of the operation I will merely refer generally to these closed and open circuit systems, since their open ation is wellknown. Under normal conditions, diaphragm 6, which is under the influence of the pressure existing within the pressure tank with. which. it is shown connected retains lever 7 in position to hold disc 33 in the position disclosed in Figure 1. In this position notches 37 and 38 of the disc arelocated distances equally spaced from pin 32 of trigger 22. In this position of the trigger its pin 21 is held out of engagement with cam 20 and its pin 26is, held out of engagement with the lower end of lever 27. Also in this normal condition of the transmitter, disc 43 is retained in such a position that its notch 44 permits the engagement therewith of pin 45, thus allowing lever 27 to bring pin 30 into engagement with finger 31 to retain pawl 18 against vibration. The transmitter mechanism when in this condition has cam 20 located in the full line position disclosed in Figure 1 and signal wheel 24 is in the full line position disclosed in Figure 2. It will also be seen that pawl has its pin 54 in engagement with inclined surface 55 and it will also be seen that the hooked end 56 of pawl 52 is free from either of the pins 57 or 57. Because of the action of sping 58 arm 50 is held in a position with its pin 49 in engagement with notch 48.

It will be assumed that the transmitter has been completely wound by placing a key upon the square end of shaft 12 to rotate it in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 2, thus causing the parts to be under the influence of the propelling spring. It will be'assumed thateither an increase or a decrease in pressure from the normal pressure existing within the pressure tank, has occurred. This will cause diaphragm 6 to either expand or collapse and thus cause lever 7 to rotate disc 33 to bring either of the notches 37'or 38 into position to be engaged pin 32. Trigger 22 upon engagement with either of these notches, will then swing to bring its pin 26 into engagement with the lower end of tr pping lever 27 and cause lever 27 to move to a position to bring its pins 45 and 30 respectively out of engagement with not-ch 44 of disc 43 and linger 31 of pawl 18. The transmitter having been released the signal wheel 2 moves in the direction of the arrow in Figure 2, to bring its teeth successively beneath switch arm 25 and thus cause the transmission of a signal to central station represented by circuit 62. During the transmission of this signal, pin 57 is being brought closer and closer to hool; 56 of pawl 52. The action of the engagement'of pin 57 with hook 56 is to cause pawl 52 to pull upon arm 50 and thus withdraw pin 49 from engagement with notch 48 of disc 46. The transmitter is then brought to a stop by pin 57 causing pawl 52 to pull arm 50 into engagement with pin 60 which forms an abutment to prevent further operation of the transmitter. I

Having constructed my transmitter with gear 8 and pinion 10 hearing a ratio of 6 to 1 with relation to one another, the distance which pin 57 has to travel before it engages hook 56 and brings arm 50 into engagement with abutment 60, is nearly of a revolution of gear 8 thus causing signal wheel 24 to rotate nearly two revolutions and, to bring all of its teeth twice under switch arm 25 to transmit the signal. This indicates trouble or a change from the normal concitions existing within the system. In the illustrated embodiment of my invention such and 38, the diaphragm 6 a signal would indicate either a rise above or a drop below the normal pressure existing within the pressure'tank. The signal wheel 24 having transmitted the signal twice,.it is stopped a short distance from completing two revolutions so that the last signal tooth 2% will he brought to a stop just after having passed beneath switch arm 25 so that the transmitter is lcked against further movement with tooth 2 1- in the dotted line position disclosed at 2- 9 in ure 2. Cam 20 being mounted upon shaft ill with signal wheel 2 the point or" cam 20 is brought beneath pin 21 and stopped in the dotted line position 20 as disclosed in Fig;- ure 1. The trigger 22 being thus held from engagement with either of the notches is free to vibrate lever 7 and disc in response to subsequent changes in the pressure of the system before the transmitter is again placed in normal condition by rewindi'ng;- it. The traz'lsmitter, after normal conditions have been 1' i in the system which is under supervisioiu is; rewound by placing a key upon the s guared end of shaft 12 and rotating the shaft in the direction or the arrow in Figure 2, notch it; being brought to the position occupied notch 47 in this rewinding; operation. This rotates cam 59 with disc l6 and brings one inclined face 59 thereof beneath pin oi, pawl 52 and lifts the pawl from engaireinent with pin 57*. Pawl 52 being disengaged the action of its spring 58 is to cause arm to resume its "former position with pin l9 in engagement with notch ll or as as the e 1e may be, thereby preventing overwindinu which would result in consequent rushing or croi'vding effect on the mechanism and in turn if persisted in would have a bad ell upon the signal from signal wheel /E1 l ripping level-2T having been held from enga 'ement with finger ill of pawl 18 by havii L pin in engagement with the periphery ol' cam 3, at the end of? the trouble signal operation of the transmitter, the transmitter tree to operate immediately upon disengagement of pawl 52 from pin 57 in response to the action of end 59- of 8.111 59 durinp the rcwinding movement.

The transmitter having been rewound and the pawl h aving been released, the transmitter starts to operate. The operation is continued until pin 57 is brought to the position occupied by pin 5'7" in Figure 2, the notch 44 of disc 43, has been previously rotated through of a rotation of cam elf), and complementary notch 44: rota-ted through the some distance now upon completion of the winding movement of the transmitter, whereby the transn'iitter may operate to complete the revolution of the disc to bring the notch from the position 4A" to the position occupied by notch is as disclosed in Figure 2. This last mentioned operation or for an a glitly. pgre ter rotation than one rev0lull wieel 24:, so that tooth will be bro back to the position disclosed in full lines in Figure 2. This results in cam 20. which was stopped in the otted line position shown in Figure 1 upon completion of the trouble signal, being brought to the lull line position disclosed in Fr 1 e freed to "ermit pin 2520f the trigger to ride on .11: race or periphery of cam 33, and to again enter either one of the notches 3-7 or 38 upon any subsequent disturbance in the normal. conditions of the system. Notch a the completion of this 9 K signal tion or" said F brought to the position formerly occupied by notch is in Figure 2. this. of course, 18

after it had been brought to the dotted line position disclosed at is in liigure2, through the trouble signal ope at-ion. Thus upon completion of the *1) ll. ignal, lever 27 is permitted to dr gement with finger 31 so that pin 30 will prevent further operation of the transmitter. The trans niitter is thus placed in condition for ag transinitt a trouble sionalwhen the conditions in the pressure tanlr. herein employed for illustration other than normal. it, can easily be seen that the transmitter cannot be posit .Jned normal, that is, with pin 4:5 coog'iera'tii vith either notch l i or 4 F ol cam zor the following reasons. Suppose the tratsinission of the aforesaid trouble sis-,rnzd due to a fall in the pressure in tank. has occurred and the transmitter has come to rest in the manner described. Now without resttu-ing the pressure conditions. the transmitter rewound and conditioned for signal operation. lVhen cam 20 disen- .;ages pin 21 pin 32 of trigger 22 will fall nto notch 38. said notch being positioned as indicated at 38; The pin 26 of trigger 22 will. engage locking arm 27 so as to prevent its pin eiiterinr either of the notches ll or l-l or cam 4:3, hence, the 8 ll signal will be sent to central station 62 and the super Since the trouble signal rota ire 1 so that pin 21 ol trigp'er 22 will 'lOO continuation of the trouble, and a third signal indicating that the transmitter has been properly ren'ound and that the condition in the supervised apparatus has been reconditioned to normal.

it will be seen that l have provided means for prerenting the winding of the transmit ter at times other than the proper time for its rewinding. it will also be seen that overwinding 0;: the propelling spring is prevented since the disengagement of pawl 52 from either oi": the pins 57 or 57, immediately per ,its pin i9 to again engage either of the notches l? or l8 and thus st p further winding of the transmitter after it has been wound suihciently.

Although I have illustrated my transmit ter applied to the supervision of a pressure tank, it may as readily be applied to other portions of a system to be supervised, without changing any of the principal features of novelty of my improved construe tion.

I aving thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. An electric signal transmitter consisting of a signal sending mechanism, a transmitter tripping trigger operatively connected therewith, means responsive to variations in conditions within a system to be supervised, adapted to release the trigger to trip the transmitter, and a second means adapted to return the trigger to and retain it in its normal position to permit operation of the condition responsive means.

in combination with an object to be supervised, an electric signaling ystem comprising an element responsive to changes in system to be supervised, a signal transmitter comprising a windable spring mechanism and controlled by the responsive means for signal operation in response to variations of conditions within the system supervised, and means for causing the transmitter to send a different signal upon rewind mg.

3. In combination with an apparatus to be observed, an electric signaling system comthe apparatus, a signal transmitter operated by a windable spring mechanism, and means controlled by the responsive means for conditioning the transmitter to give a signal in response to variations of conditions in the apparatus, and means for conditioning the transmitter for another signal upon restoration of the conditions in the apparatus observed and upon the rewinding of the transmitter.

l. An electric signal transmitter consisting of a member responsive to variations in conditions within a system to be supervised, a trigger responsive to operation of said condition-responsive member, a tripping lever adapted to be operated in response to operation of the trigger, a mechanism adapted to operate in response to tripping oi the tripping lever to transmit a trouble signal upon changes from normal conditions within the system, and to transmit an O K signal upon restoration of the system and transmitter to normal conditions, 7

5. An electric signal transmitter comprising a power-propelled signal transmitting mechanism operated by a windable spring mechanism, means responsive to variations in conditions within a system to be supervised, adapted to trip the transmitter to transmit a trouble signal, and a second means adapted to lock the transmitter against predetermined winding of the spring thereof upon restoration of the system and transmitter to normal conditions, said in c ianism being adapted to render inoperative the second mentioned means in response to changes from normal conditions in the system.

in testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 31st day of May,

JAMES D. NELSON.

l' v itnesses MARIE MCDONALD, JAMES R. ZUISKEE. 

